Valve mechanism



Aug 8, 1933- P. c. TEMPLE VALVE MECHNISM Filed June 8, 1931 g., M P f Rm in N .5 MC uw@ M @M 4 /0 h 5 /O J w 50 pended hereto. l

Patented Aug. s, 1933 UNITEDSTATES VALVE MEcnANisM Paul C. Temple, Decatur, Ill.,vassignorl to Cash Company, Decatur, Ill., akCorporation of Delaware Y Application .nuls 8,1931. Aserial No. 542,83*: l

`2 claims. (c1. 13T-153) This invention relates to. valve mechanisms, and more particularly to an unloading valve which is adapted for use in a hydraulic. system including a pump` and which will open automatically to' 5 relieve the discharge pressure of the `pump when.

ever this pressure tends .to become vexcessive as a result of a decrease in the demand -for fluid.

In washing automobiles it is customary to use a ,water discharge nozzle or so-called "gun which is supplied with water at high pressure from a pump driven by an electric motor. The inlet'of the pump is usually connected to the city water supply, and a manually operablevalve is` provided to control the flow through the nozzle. e So long `as this y valve is wide openV and the nozzle is capable of handling the entire discharge capacity of the pump, nodifliculty will arise. There are times, however, when it is desired to reduce Y desirable in the interest of economy of operation that `the pump should operate under substantially no-load conditions, the discharge `pressure only slightly' exceedingthe inlet pressure.

llhese problems have been recognized and various .constructions have been proposed in thepast for overcoming these various difficulties.` vThe prior devices have however, been complicated, bulky and expensive have been so arranged that variations in the fluid pressure at the pump inlet vwould greatly `changethe adjustment of the unloading valve and cause it to unload at diierent'pressures, which is undesirable. ItV is accordingly the main object of my inven- 40 tion to provide an unloading valve which is simple, kcompact and inexpensive, and particularly to provide such avalve which will open at adefi-Y nite predetermined pressure that is substantially unaffectedby variations in the l'pressure at the inlet ofthe pump.

' With thisI and other objects in view, as Will be apparent to those skilled in the art, my invention resides ,nthe combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the'claims ap- VIn accordance with my invention I provide a device which vby-passes the fluiddischarged by the pump wheneverthe. valveV at the fluid discharge nozzlezisclosed. The 'specificform of device illustrated comprises a oasingwhh ,forms terior to the nozzle valve.

Moreover, many of f them i a passage for the flow of -water orf other fluid be? tween an inlet and an outlet. The iiow through the casing is controlled by a vertically `movable valve which is arranged to prevent flow` when inV its lowermost position. l A pair of spacedfeet extend downwardly from the casing and support a pressure chamber having a` iiexible diaphragm as its upper wall. This pressure -chamber is ar#- ranged to be subjected tothe fluid pressure'an- A pressure plate con-` tacts with thevupper surface "of the diaphragm, and this plate is connected toV the`-vertically movable'valve by a vertically slida'bl'efrod extending through a stufling box on thelower wall of.l the casing. A pair of ears extend outwardly AVfrom compression spring is` mounted'abve each ear to urge the pressure'plate downwardly. When ever the nozzle yvalve is closed and the control-l ling pressure beneath the diaphragm reaches a to. opposite sides of thepressure plate, and a coiled j sufliciently high valueV to overcome the Aforce 'of .ness ofillustration; and Y Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation showing the unloading valve" assembled with other devices' to .form an automobilev washing apparatus.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawing comprises'a hollow casing 10 shapedto provide 'v a horizontal passage or conduit llile'ading from an inletopening 12 to an outlet opening 14.# The `inletjand outlet are on opposite sides of the .Bof

casingandin direct line'with each: other,` aconf struction which facilitates manufacturing oper. ations and'simpliiies the piping connections to the "deviceQ- I `have indicated'exte'rnali screw threads 15 and 16 on :thelc'as'ing adjacent to the inlet'and outlet respectively for connection` purposes, but` it will be-clearthat internal screw threads may be used instead, or othery equivalent means provided; A 'Z.shaped partition18extends diagonally across the-conduit 11 and divides i the interiorof the casinginto an inlet chamber 19 above the partition andy adjacent to the, inlet "12 4and an outlet, chamber 20 beneath the Vpartition and adjacentv to the outlet 14. 1 This partition is provided with a central opening 22 surrounded on the upper side of the partition by an annular valve seat 23. kThis valve seat is preferablyformed on a ring 24 which is screw threaded into the opening in the partition. With this construction, the valve seat can be formed of a different and more durable material from the casing 10.

A vertically slidable valve 26 is mounted directly above the valve seat 23 and arranged to cooperate therewith in controlling the now through the conduit 11. This valve 26 is cylindrical in shape and Yit is preferably recessed from above to receivethe upper end of a small coiled compression spring 27 which urges the valve downwardly to its closed position against the seat 23.

The valve 26 and spring 27 are mounted in a hollow cap 28 which is screw threaded into an lopening in the top of the casing 10, an annular gasket 30 being provided between the capand casing to prevent leakage ,of fluid. The cap 28 nts the outside of the valve rather loosely to avoidrfriction and binding, kand to allow fluid to leave or enter the space above the valve as the` valve moves up or down, thereby providing a dash pot action which greatly smooths out the yoperation of the valve. With this construction the upper surface of the valve is subjected to the iluid pressure existing in the inlet chamber 19.

YIn order to open the valve 26 automatically vwhen external conditions rendersuch action desirable,-I provide a suitable pressure responsive device, such as a flexible diaphragm 3l. For the purpose of supporting this diaphragm, a pair of `spaced. L-shaped. feet 32 'are formed integral with the casing. These feet 32 lextend downwardly from the casing beneath the inlet 12 and the outlet 14 respectively, and they are arranged with theirf'lower portions extending outwardly away from each other. The feet 32 supportan .annular member or clamping ring 34, and the peripheral portion of the diaphragm 31 is clamped against the lower surface of the ring 34 by means of a cap 'or disk 35. A pair of bolts 36 extend vertically through. openings in the feet 32, ring 34, diaphragm 3l and cap 35, serving to fasten these parts firmly together. The cap 35 has a concave upper surface providing'a pressure chamber 38 having the diaphragm as its upper wall, and a tapped hole 39 is provided in the center lofthe cap in order that uid pressure may be transmittedto this chamber.

The diaphragm-31 is supported against the uid pressure in chamber 38 by means of a pressure plate shaped as a flat bottomed circular cup 40 located within the ring-34 directly beneath the casing 10 and in contact 'with the upper surface of thejdiaphragm. A pair of ears 42 (Fig. 2) extend outwardly in opposite directions from the upper part of the cup 40 and over the upper surface of the ring 34,'the ears 42 and cup 40 forming a yoke which is arranged between the. feet 32 and at right angles to the passage 11;V Each ear 42 has van opening therein through which passes Va vertical stud 44 extending upwardly from the pressure chamber. These studs 44 are threaded for asubstantial distance at both ends and their lower ends extend through openings in the ring 34, diaphragm 31 and cap 35. Each stud is provided with a nut 45 at its extreme lower; end and a second nut 46 just above the ring 34. With this construction the lower portions of the studs serve as'bolts which cooperate stem 5l (Fig. l). beneath thervalve in axial alignment therewith,

with the bolts 36 in clamping the diaphragm between the ring k34 and cap 35.

Surrounding each stud Y44y above the corresponding ear 42 is a heavy coiled compression spring 48, whichis supported at its upper end by an adjusting nut 49 threaded on to the stud. These springs urge the cup 40 downwardly with a pressure which may be varied as desired by means of the nuts 49. When the fluid pressure in chamber 38 is insuflicient to overcome the force of the springs, the ears 42 rest against the tops of the nuts 46, which thus limit the downward movement of the yoke.

The vertical movements of the yoke are transmitted tothe valve 26 by a vertical rod or valve This rod 51 is located directly and extends through a stuiling box 52 on the lower wall of the casing l0. A suitable packing `53 is provided in this stuing box, and an annular gland 55 surrounds the rod and serves to compress the packing. In order to maintain a, continuous pressure'on the packing, I provide a small coiled compression spring 56 which surrounds the rod 51 beneath the'gland 55 and which is supported by a nut 57 threaded to the lower end of the rod. This spring 56 forces the gland upwardico ly against the packing and thus prevents leakage of fluid. The rod 5l is preferably slightly shorter than the distance between the valve and the cup 40 when the latter is in its lowerrnost position, so that the valve `will be sure to close tightly under these conditions. l

Referring now to Fig. 3 of the drawing, my irnproved unloading valve isthere shown installed in connection with other parts to form an automobile washing apparatus. I have illustrated a pump 60, which may be of the geared rotary type, and which may be driven by an electric motor (not shown). The pump is supplied with water from a suitable source', such as the city water supply, through a pipe line 61, and the discharge'of the pump is connected by a pipe line 62, check valve 64, pipe line 65, manually operable valve'j66, and

exible hose 68 to a water discharge nozzle or gun 69. An air chamber '70 is connected to the pipe line 65 and subjected to the pressure therein. The diaphragm chamber 38 of the unloading valve is likewise subjected to this same pressure through :.1225

a pipe line 72 connecting Vthe pipe line 65 with the opening 39 yin the cap 35. The inlet 12 of the unloading valve is connectedto the pipe line 62 by meansxof a pipe 73, and the outlet 14 of the unloading valve is connected to the pipe line 61 charging the full capacity of the pumpfcheckg I Valve 64 will be Open and the unloading valve 26 will be closed. If now the manually operable valve 66 is closed, the pressure in pipe lines 62, 65, '72 and air chamber 70 will increase to 320 pounds, and this pressure acting on the diaphragm 31 will be suicient to overcome the force of springs 48 andthe iluid pressure acting on the upper side of Valve 26, and immediately open the valve.l The pressurev in pipes 62 and 73 will .at once droprto a value only slightly exceeding the city water pressure, and the pump will circulate water freely and without any material resistance s through pipe '73, the unloading valve, and4 pipe line 74 back tothe pump inlet pipe 61. Check valve 64 will close, trapping the 320 pound pressure in the air chamber 70 and thus holding the unloading valve open. When the valve 66 is again opened to allow water to fiow from the nozzle 69, the pressure in the air chamber 70 will'immediately decrease, springs 48 will force Athe yoke downwardly and close the unloading valve 26,

`the'water discharged by the pump vwillopen vthe checkvalve 64 and flow through pipe 65, valve 66 and hose 68 to nozzle 69, and the discharge'pressure at the pump will increase to 300 pounds. 'If the valve 66 is closed part way tol reduce the flow through the nozzle, the excess water vdischarged by the pump will be `by-passed through the un` loading valve without 'overloading the motor` which drives the pump. I

The unloading valve is of simple compact con-r struction, and formed of a few parts, all of which can be easily machined and assembled. By using"v the two springs 48 which extend upwardly at each Aside of the casing, I greatly reduce the overall dimensions of the apparatus. Moreover, this arrangement places the adjusting nuts 49 `in readily accessible positions. When the deviceA is in use, the pump inlet pressure is of course effective in the outlet chamber 20, and if this pressure changes, say from 50 pounds to 100 pounds, this change in pressure will have no material effectA horizontal, above, beneath, etc., in 'order to set forth the claimed structure more clearly. It is to be understood, however, thatk my im# proved unloading valve will operate in positions other than that illustrated, and that these expressions are not to be considered` as limitations except in so far as they-define the positions of the parts of the unloading valve itself relative to each other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byV Letters Patent is:

1. A valve mechanism comprising a casingV shaped to provide a passage for the flow of fluid,

a valve vertically slidable in the casing and ar-` ranged to control the fluid flow through the passage, agpair ofv spaced feet integral with the casing and extending downwardly therefrom, a pressure chamber supported bysaid feet and having a .flexible diaphragm as its upper wall adapted to be subjected to an external controlling pressure, a-pressure plate shaped as a flat bottomed circular cup'in contactwith` the upper surfaceA of the diaphragm and located between the feet,

vso

a vertically slidable` rod extending'downwardly into the cup and connecting the pressure plate' with` the valve, a `stuiling box mounted `on the lower wall of thecasing and surrounding the rod,

a pair of ears extending outwardlyin opposite` directions from the upper part of the pressure plate cup, and a coiled compression spring mounted above eachV ear and serving to urge the pressure plate downwardly controlling pressure.

2. A valve mechanism comprising a `casing shaped to provide a passagefor the flow of fluid,l a valve vertically slidable in the casing and arranged to Vcontrol the fluid flow through ythey passage, a pair of spaced feet integral with thecasin v opposition to -the ico ing and extending downwardlytherefrom,` a 'ring supported against the lower surface of` said feet,` a exible diaphragm beneath the ring, a cap beneath the diaphragm arranged toV clamp the periphery ofthe diaphragmagainst `the ring and forma pressure chamber, a pressure plate located within the ring and in contact with the upper surface of the diaphragm,`a vertically slidable `rod extending downwardly from the valve into contact with-the pressure plate, a stuii'ing box on the lower wall of the casing, packing within the stuiling box and surrounding the rod, an v annular gland, a coiled compression spring sur` roundingrthe rod and arranged to` force the gland upwardly against the packing, a 'pair ofears .integral with the pressure plate and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom above the ring, and a Acoiled compression spring mount- `ed above each'ear and serving to urge the pressure plate downwardly. A

PAUL QTE'MPLE. 'i125 

